UNITED STATES GOLD BUREAU
R
Gold American Eagle Proof Coins Portfolio
SECURE YOUR LEGACY 1986 - 2015
The World’s #1 Investment Grade Coin
A Brief History of Gold and Gold Coinage Since pre-historic times, gold has been highly prized for its beauty, utility and durability. It may have been the very first metal used by human civilization particularly for ornamentation and rituals. Gold’s first use was likely in and around Egypt, and it is even referenced several times in Old Testament Biblical texts. By the 14th Century B.C., gold was so popular that King Tushratta of Mittani, near what is now modern Syria, remarked that gold was “common as dust.” It was first exploited during the age of King Midas and by about 643 B.C., the world’s first gold coinage began appearing. Centuries later, the European exploitation was initially triggered by reports of abundant gold ornaments routinely displayed by the native people throughout Peru, Columbia and Central America. For centuries, gold has been widely considered one of the most precious metals. For this reason, it has become the de facto standard for many of the world’s most well-known and stable currencies. Geologically speaking, gold was relatively easy to obtain in ancient times. In medieval times, alchemists attempted to turn alternate substances, like lead, into gold by using a “philosopher’s stone.” While these attempts failed, their activities laid the groundwork for the sciences of chemistry. Nineteenth century history is full of accounts of various gold rushes, most notably in California, Colorado, Alaska, and Australia.
Limited Supply
It is estimated that 75% off all gold ever produced throughout history has been mined since 1910. One anecdotal estimate has it that all the gold ever produced would form a single cube measuring approximately 66 feet on all sides. The World Gold Council estimates the
total gold supply at 3,859 tons. Because of its durability and historically high value, virtually all of the gold ever produced throughout history is still in circulation. In fact, it is estimated that about 15% of the world’s annual gold consumption is in recycled gold. Silver and gold coins were first used during the 6th Century B.C. reign of King Croesus in Lydia. The practice quickly spread to the Greek Empire. When Alexander the Great consolidated the Greek Empire 200 years later, he seized over 700,000 troy ounces in gold coinage from the Persian Empire. Gold coinage was in full swing during the Roman Empire, with the Romans minting gold coins on a historic scale. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it took 1,000 years for gold coinage to make a comeback. By 1200, Venice began to emerge as an economic trading power and was a conduit for gold coinage as a means of trade settlement. By 1284, Venice had established its own gold mint and began producing the ducat, which was the premier gold coinage throughout the world for the next five centuries. During that time, new gold discoveries led to all the major European powers minting their own gold coinage. The diversity of coinage continued as new supplies of gold were discovered in Africa and the Americas. However, silver dominated gold until about 1690. With the discovery of new gold in Brazil, gold coins once again came to be more prized than silver coinage. During his tenure as Master of the Mint, Sir Isaac Newton set the official gold standard in 1717, which lasted until the outbreak of World War I. The final triumph of gold over silver occurred during the gold rush in America and Australia, during which virtually all gold that was mined was turned into gold coinage. continued on next page
The Gold American Eagle: The Pride of the U.S. Mint
OBVERSE (Front) Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Rendition of Lady Liberty
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CONTINUED
The Gold American Eagle: The Pride of the U.S. Mint
By 1900, the United States switched from a bimetallic silver and gold standard to a single gold standard. With the outbreak of WWI, nations began to greatly limit their gold and coin production. Even private ownership was restricted. Until recent years, gold coin production remained restricted and is rarely ever used as tender. Gold coins do, however, remain popular with investors and collectors.
The Gold American Eagle Proofs
Gold & President Reagan
In creating brilliant Proof coins, the U.S. Mint undertakes a specialized minting process, which begins by manually feeding burnished coin blanks into presses fitted with special dies, which strike the coins to create the features. To create the effect of detailed images floating above a mirror-like field, each coin is struck multiple times. After minting, each coin undergoes intense scrutiny for production flaws. After passing inspection, each Proof coin is sealed and documented with an individual Document of Authenticity by the U.S. government.
President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 6102 in 1933, making private ownership of gold by U.S. citizens illegal. More than 40 years later, President Ford repealed Roosevelt’s order, restoring Americans’ right to own gold, though the availability of coins was limited until President Reagan authorized the U.S. Mint to produce gold coins again.
REVERSE (BACK) Eagle Flying Above A Nest Containing A Female Eagle And Her Hatchlings
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The Gold American Eagle family consists of four sizes and denominations: $5, $10, $25, and $50 coins. The legal tender denominations are largely symbolic because the value of the gold content well exceeds its face value. Each $50 Gold Eagle contains one full Troy ounce of gold, while the smaller denominations consist of 1/10, 1/4, and 1/2 troy ounces respectively. The Gold Eagle’s obverse (front) features an updated rendition of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ classic walking Lady Liberty. The coin’s reverse side features a family of eagles with the male eagle grasping an olive branch and flying above a female nesting with her hatchlings. With the exception of denomination and weight, each Gold Eagle is identical in design.
The U.S. Mint also produces a Proof version of the Gold Eagles that are identical to the business strike coins. The only design detail unique to the Proof versions is the “W” mint mark beneath the date. Which means the coin was produced at West Point, New York. Like the business strikes, the Proofs are also available in four denominations.
The Importance of Certification
For discerning collectors, condition is of paramount importance. It could be said that the essence of vintage value for virtually any collectible is “history, supply and condition.” In certifying a coin, all aspects of a coin’s characteristics are carefully considered and scrupulously examined, including authenticity, condition and pedigree if applicable. After a coin has completed the inspection and certification stage, it is then sonically sealed in an individual tamper-evident holder and documented with its own serial number to ensure its authenticity.
American Eagle Gold Coin Mintage, Population and ranking numbers
Rarity
Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th TBD
Year 1993 1990 1999 1998 1989 1992 1997 1996 2001 1994 2000 1987 2004 2002 2008 1988 1991 1995 2003 2005 2013 1986 2011 2014 2012 2010 2006 2007 2015
$5 Tenth-Ounce
Year 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013* 2014^ 2015
Mintage NA NA 143,881 84,647 99,349 70,334 64,874 45,960 62,849 62,667 57,047 34,977 39,395 48,428 49,971 37,530 40,864 40,027 35,131 49,265 47,277 58,553 28,116 54,285 42,697 20,740 21,742 35,000 TBD
Pop. NA NA 1,595 943 1,314 1,270 962 672 640 825 590 530 605 506 742 818 822 1,018 774 1,721 4,338 2,880 1,280 2,381 1,753 2,036 1,832 2,161 TBD
$10 Quarter-Ounce
Year 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Mintage NA NA 98,028 54,170 62,674 50,839 46,269 46,464 48,172 47,526 38,219 29,805 29,503 34,417 36,036 25,613 29,242 30,292 28,839 37,207 36,127 46,189 18,877 44,507 28,782 13,775 12,789 25,000 TBD
Pop. NA NA 1,174 754 608 973 656 331 759 1,117 716 579 739 572 681 699 801 982 728 1,222 1,977 2,163 697 2,119 1,288 1,952 1,202 1,725 TBD
$25 Half-Ounce
Year 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Mintage NA 143,398 76,528 44,798 51,636 53,125 40,976 43,819 44,584 45,388 35,058 26,344 25,374 30,427 32,028 23,240 26,646 28,270 27,330 34,311 34,322 44,025 22,602 44,527 26,781 12,809 12,718 25,000 TBD
Pop. NA 647 707 454 249 720 487 145 602 1,057 660 535 541 401 635 738 783 957 742 1,202 2,085 2,037 791 1,877 2,229 3,147 2,171 1,627 TBD
$50 One-Ounce
Year 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Mintage 446,290 147,498 87,133 54,570 62,401 50,411 44,826 34,369 46,674 46,368 36,153 28,034 25,886 31,427 33,007 24,555 27,499 28,344 28,215 35,246 47,092 51,810 30,237 59,480 48,306 23,630 24,710 35,000 TBD
Pop. 1,349 1,284 1,171 931 832 823 630 423 668 899 541 578 453 470 602 572 693 837 670 1,145 2,117 2,218 776 1,790 1,397 1,714 1,259 1,453 TBD
The Classic Group 1986 - 1991 The Gold American Eagle coins of the Classic Group (spanning from 1986 to 1991) have seen exceptional investment performance, with yearly price increases ranging from nearly 15% to 40% over the last 5 years, far above average returns in the stock market or even the gold bullion market.
Classic LXXXVI
1986
Classic LXXXVI
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 446,290 Proof 70 Population: 1,349 Group Rank: 6th
Overall Rank: 22nd
$50
The Legacy Begins
1 oz.
JANUARY 28 Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates 73 seconds after launch, killing the crew of 7 astronauts, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.
MARCH 25 The 58th Academy Awards are held in Los Angeles, California, with Out of Africa winning Best Picture.
APRIL 29 Roger Clemens sets the record for the most strikeouts in a 9-inning MLB game, striking out 20 batters.
NOVEMBER 3 Iran–Contra affair: The Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa reports that the U.S. has been selling weapons to Iran in secret, in order to secure the release of 7 American hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.
1987
Classic LXXXVI
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 290,896 Proof 70 Population: 647 Group Rank: 3rd
Overall Rank: 12th
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January 8 The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 2,000 for the first time, gaining 8.30 to close at 2,002.25.
MARCH 2 American Motors Corporation is acquired by the Chrysler Corporation.
MARCH 29 World Wrestling Entertainment presented Wrestle Mania III in the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan. This event was attended by over 90,000 people and set an all-time indoor attendance record.
OCTOBER 26 The Dow Jones Industrial Average goes down 156.83 points; at the time it is the second largest decrease ever (trailing Black Monday).
1988
Classic LXXXVI
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 405,570 Proof 70 Population: 707 Group Rank: 4th
Overall Rank: 16th
March 16 First Republic Bank of Texas fails and enters FDIC receivership, the second largest FDIC assisted bank failure up to that point.
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MAY 31 U.S. President Ronald Reagan addresses 600 Moscow State University students, during his visit to the Soviet Union.
MARCH 26 U.S. presidential candidate Jesse Jackson defeats Michael Dukakis in the Michigan Democratic caucuses, becoming the temporary front-runner for the party’s nomination.
SEPTEMBER 29 NASA resumes space shuttle flights, grounded after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, with Space Shuttle Discovery.
NOVEMBER 30 Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. buys RJR Nabisco for US$25.07 billion in the biggest leveraged buyout deal of all time.
1989
Classic LXXXVI
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 238,185 Proof 70 Population: 454 Group Rank: 2nd
Overall Rank: 5th
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MARCH 4 Time, Inc. and Warner Communications announce plans for a merger, forming Time Warner.
APRIL 14 The U.S. government seizes the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association as part of the massive S&L Crisis that cost taxpayers nearly $200 billion in bailouts, and many people their life savings.
MARCH 24 Exxon Valdez oil spill: In Alaska’s Prince William Sound, the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (11 million gallons) of oil after running aground.
December 20 Operation Just Cause is launched in an attempt to overthrow Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.
OCTOBER 13 Friday the 13th mini-crash: The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges 190.58 points, or 6.91 percent, to close at 2,569.26, most likely after the junk bond market collapses.
1990
Classic LXXXVI
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 276,060 Proof 70 Population: 249 Group Rank: 1st
Overall Rank: 2nd
January 10 Time Warner is formed from the merger of Time Inc. and Warner Communications Inc.
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APRIL 24 The Space Shuttle Discovery places the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. MARCH 18 Twelve paintings, collectively worth from $100 to $300 million, are stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts by 2 thieves posing as police officers. This is the largest art theft in U.S. history.
AUGUST 19 Leonard Bernstein conducts his final concert, ending with Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. September 29 Washington National Cathedral is completed after 83 years of construction.
1991
Classic LXXXVI
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 224,709 Proof 70 Population: 720 Group Rank: 5th
Overall Rank: 17th
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January 17 Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm begins with air strikes against Iraq.
APRIL 17 The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 3,000 for the first time ever, at 3,004.46.
MARCH 13 The United States Department of Justice announces that Exxon has agreed to pay $1 billion for the clean-up of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.
December 25–26 The Cold War ends as President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev resigns and the Soviet Union dissolves.
September 2 Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The United States recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The Modern Era Group 1992 - 2000 The yearly price increase for the sets in the Modern Era group has been superior, averaging between 18% and nearly 40% each of the last 5 years, far above returns in the stock market or even the gold bullion market, making each set an excellent medium- or long-term investment.
Modern
1992
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 196,945 Proof 70 Population: 487 Group Rank: 4th
Overall Rank: 6th
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APRIL 6 Microsoft releases Windows 3.1 introducing various enhancements to the still MS-DOS-based platform.
MARCH 18 On CNN’s Larry King Live, Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot announces that he will run for U.S. President as an independent, if volunteers put him on the ballot in all 50 states.
MAY 25 Jay Leno becomes the new host of NBC’s Tonight Show, following the retirement of Johnny Carson.
AUGUST 24-28 Hurricane Andrew hits south Florida and dissipates over the Tennessee valley, killing 65 and causing $26.5 billion in damage.
1993
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 170,612 Proof 70 Population: 145 Group Rank: 1st
Overall Rank: 1st
JANUARY 20 Bill Clinton succeeds George H. W. Bush as the 42nd President of the United States.
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February 28 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raid the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. Four agents and 5 Davidians die in the raid and a 51-day standoff begins.
February 26 World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a van bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing 6 and injuring over 1,000.
November 17–22 The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) passes the legislative houses in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
SEPTEMBER 6 Canadian software specialist Peter de Jager publishes in Computerworld U.S. weekly magazine an article Doomsday 2000, which is the first known reference to Y2K – the 2000 Year problem.
1994
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 202,279 Proof 70 Population: 602 Group Rank: 8th
Overall Rank: 10th
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FEBRUARY 22 Aldrich Ames and his wife are charged with spying for the Soviet Union by the United States Department of Justice.
APRIL 22 Former President Richard Nixon dies at 81. He is buried at his presidential library on April 26.
JUNE 17 NFL star O.J. Simpson and his friend Al Cowlings flee from police in his white Ford Bronco. The low-speed chase ends at Simpson’s Brentwood, Los Angeles, California mansion, where he surrenders.
JUNE 22 The Houston Rockets defeat the New York Knicks at The Summit in Texas in Game 7 of the 1993–94 NBA season, to win their first NBA Championship.
DECEMBER 19 A planned exchange rate correction of the Mexican Peso to the US Dollar, becomes a massive financial meltdown in Mexico, unleashing the ‘Tequila Effect’ on global financial markets.
1995
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 201,949 Proof 70 Population: 825 Group Rank: 9th
Overall Rank: 18th
January 31 U.S. President Bill Clinton invokes emergency powers to extend a $20 billion loan to help Mexico avert financial collapse.
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April 19 Oklahoma City bombing: 168 people, including 8 Federal Marshals and 19 children, are killed at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Timothy McVeighand one of his accomplices, Terry Nichols, set off the bomb.
MARCH 1 Yahoo! is founded in Santa Clara, California
August 24 Microsoft releases Windows 95.
November 14–19 A budget standoff between Democrats and Republicans in Congress forces the federal government to temporarily close national parks and museums, and run most government offices with skeleton staff.
1996
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 166,477 Proof 70 Population: 541 Group Rank: 6th
Overall Rank: 8th
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FEBRUARY 17 In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Garry Kasparov beats “Deep Blue� in a second chess match
MAY 11 After takeoff from Miami, Florida, a fire in the cargo hold of Atlanta-bound ValuJet Flight 592 causes the Douglas DC-9 to crash in the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 on board.
April 9 President Bill Clinton signs the Line Item Veto Act of 1996, granting the U.S. president line-item veto power. The Supreme Court of the United States later finds this law unconstitutional.
AUGUST 26 Bill Clinton signs welfare reform into law.
July 27 The Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics kills 1 and injures 111.
November 26 The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas is imploded to make way for the Venetian Hotel.
1997
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 119,160 Proof 70 Population: 530 Group Rank: 5th
Overall Rank: 7th
January 22 Madeleine Albright becomes the first female Secretary of State, after confirmation by the United States Senate.
August 1 Steve Jobs returns to Apple Computer, Inc at Macworld in Boston.
June 12 The United States Department of the Treasury unveils a new $50 bill, meant to be more difficult to counterfeit.
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October 4 Loomis Fargo Bank Robbery: The second largest cash robbery in U.S. history occurs at the Charlotte, North Carolina office of Wells Fargo. An FBI investigation eventually results in 24 convictions and the recovery of approximately 95% of the stolen cash. October 27 Stock markets around the world crash because of a global economic crisis scare. The Dow Jones Industrial Average follows suit and plummets 554.26, or 7.18%, to 7,161.15. The points loss exceeds the loss from Black Monday. Officials at the New York Stock Exchange for the first time invoke the “circuit breaker� rule to stop trading.
1998
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 120,158 Proof 70 Population: 453 Group Rank: 3rd
Overall Rank: 4th
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January 28 Ford Motor Company announces the buyout of Volvo Cars for $6.45 billion.
May 18 The United States Department of Justice and 20 U.S. states file an antitrust case against Microsoft. April 7 Citicorp and Travelers Group announce plans to merge, creating the largest financial-services conglomerate in the world, Citigroup.
August 20 The United States military launches cruise missile attacks against Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical plant in Sudan in retaliation for the August 7 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. November 9 In the largest civil settlement in United States history, a federal judge approves a $1.03 billion settlement requiring dozens of brokerage houses (including Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, and Salomon Smith Barney) to pay investors who claim they were cheated in a widespread price-fixing scheme on the NASDAQ.
1999
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 144,699 Proof 70 Population: 401 Group Rank: 2nd
Overall Rank: 3rd
JANUARY 7 The Senate trial in the impeachment of U.S. President Bill Clinton begins.
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March 25 Enron energy traders allegedly route 2,900 megawatts of electricity destined for California to the town of Silver Peak, Nevada, population 200.
March 17 The Roth IRA is introduced by U.S. Senator William V. Roth, Jr.
May 3 The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 11,000 for the first time, at 11,014.70.
September 7 Viacom and CBS merge.
2000
Modern
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 151,042 Proof 70 Population: 602 Group Rank: 7th
Overall Rank: 11th
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March 10 The NASDAQ Composite Index reaches an all-time high of 5,048. February 1 Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico say they have traced the origin of the AIDS virus to around 1930.
October 12 In Aden, Yemen, the USS Cole is badly damaged by two Al-Qaeda suicide bombers, who place a small boat laden with explosives alongside the United States Navy destroyer, killing 17 crew members and wounding at least 39. June 7 A Court orders the break up of the Microsoft corporation because of its monopoly in the computer software market.
December 12 The U.S. Supreme Court overturns the ruling by the Florida Supreme Court, ending the recount and effectively giving the state, and the Presidency, to George W. Bush.
The Millennium Group 2001 - 2008 The Millennium Group of Gold American Eagles includes some of the coins with the best investment performance of any coins in the series, with only one of the sets rising in price less than 10% per year over the last 5 years, still far above recent average returns in the stock market or even the gold bullion market.
2001 NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 110,938 Proof 70 Population: 572 Group Rank: 1st
Overall Rank: 9th
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January 11 The U.S. Federal Trade Commission approves the merger of America Online and Time Warner to form AOL Time Warner.
June 7 The Bush tax cuts are signed into law by U.S. president George W. Bush.
SEPTEMBER 11 Almost 3,000 people are killed in terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in rural Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
August 2 The House of Representatives approves oil exploration in the Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
DECEMBER 2 Enron files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection five days after Dynegy cancels a $8.4 billion buyout bid.
2002 NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 124,251 Proof 70 Population: 693 Group Rank: 3rd
Overall Rank: 14th
January 9 The United States Department of Justice announces it will pursue a criminal investigation of Enron.
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July 21 Telecommunications giant WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the largest such filing in United States history.
MAy 10 FBI agent Robert Hanssen is sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for selling American secrets to Moscow for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds.
AUGUST 12 In Arlington, Virginia, US Airways declares bankruptcy.
December 9 United Airlines, the second largest airline in the world, files for bankruptcy. OCTOBER 9 The Dot-com bubble bear market reaches bottom, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average slips below 7,200.
2003 NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 126,933 Proof 70 Population: 837 Group Rank: 5th
Overall Rank: 19th
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JANUARY 16 Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on what turns out to be its last flight.
March 20 The US-led Iraq War begins.
JUNE 4 Martha Stewart and her broker are indicted for using privileged investment information and then obstructing a federal investigation.
MARCH 18 FBI agents raid the corporate headquarters of Health South Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama, on suspicion of massive corporate fraud led by the company’s top executives.
December 13 End of Operation Red Dawn resulting in the capture of Saddam Hussein in Tikrit.
OCTOBER 7 2003 California recall: Voters recall Governor Gray Davis from office and elect actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to succeed him.
2004 NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 119,515 Proof 70 Population: 670 Group Rank: 2nd
Overall Rank: 13th
FEBRUARY 26 The United States lifts a ban on travel to Libya, ending travel restrictions to the nation that had lasted for 23 years.
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June 5 Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, dies at his home in Bel-Air, California at the age of 93. A six-day state funeral follows after his death.
April 29 The last Oldsmobile rolls off of the assembly line.
July 4 Ground-breaking of Freedom Tower in New York City.
December 8 Lenovo announces its plan to purchase IBM’s global PC business, making it the third largest world PC maker after Dell and Hewlett-Packard.
2005 NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 156,029 Proof 70 Population: 1,145 Group Rank: 6th
Overall Rank: 20th
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January 20 George W. Bush is sworn in for his second term as president.
May 31 W. Mark Felt reveals himself to be the Watergate scandal whistleblower called “Deep Throat”.
AUGUST 23 Hurricane Katrina forms over the Bahamas.
June 17 Because of “quadruple-witching” options and futures expiration, the New York Stock Exchange sees the heaviest first-hour trading on record. 704 million shares are traded between 9:30–10:30 a.m. (1.92 billion shares for the day).
October 1 The U.S. housing bubble begins to burst, causing home prices to stop rising unexpectedly and begin to decline.
20TH ANNIVERSARY THREE COIN SET
The 20th Anniversary set includes a Proof, Reverse Proof, a Mint State and are all in perfect condition. This is the first time the U.S. Mint made a reverse proof of any kind. A total of only 2,000 three coin Gold Eagle Proof sets from 2006 have been certified by NGC in Proof 70 condition. Original Total Mintage: 10,000 Proof 70 Population: 1,718
2006
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 164,818 Proof 70 Population: 1,977 Group Rank: 7th
Overall Rank: 27th
January 26 General Motors reports an $8.6 billion loss for 2005, its biggest loss since 1992.
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May 5 Fiat chairman Sergio Marchionne announces that the Alfa Romeo automobile brand will return to the United States in 2008, after a 13-year hiatus. February 16 The chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke testifies to the US Senate that Chinese ownership of US assets is not large enough to put the country at risk economically.
October 10 Google buys YouTube for $1.65 billion.
2007 NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 200,577 Proof 70 Population: 2,037 Group Rank: 8th
Overall Rank: 28th
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January 31 Delta Air Lines creditors officially reject US Airways’ hostile takeover bid.
APRIL 17 The Pound Sterling hits a 15-year high against the US dollar, breaking through the $2 level for the first time since 1992. July 19 The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 14,000 for the first time in history.
NovemBer 4 Daylight saving time in the United States and most of Canada will end, one week later than the previous schedule, in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
2008 NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 99,832 Proof 70 Population: 697 Group Rank: 4th
Overall Rank: 15th
January 18 President George W. Bush announces an economic stimulus package, proposing $800 per individual and $1600 per couple in tax refunds.
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June 27 After three decades as the Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates steps down from daily duties to concentrate on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. April 15-20 Pope Benedict XVI visits the United States. Among his destinations are the White House, The Catholic University of America, the United Nations General Assembly, and the site of the fallen World Trade Center.
November 4 Barack Obama is elected the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first African-American President-elect.
The Ultra High Relief 2009 Many collectors and collectors believe that the 24-karat 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle gold coin is the most beautiful coin that the U.S. Mint has ever produced. That’s why many still call it “The Perfect Gold Coin.”
2009 2009 ULTRA HIGH RELIEF DOUBLE EAGLE
The United States Mint announced the issue of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin on March 13, 2008. This coin promises to fulfill Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ vision of an ultra high relief coin that could not be realized in 1907 with his legendary Double Eagle liberty design. Note: The Gold American Eagle proof coin was not minted in 2009 to allow the Mint to focus on this special issue.
$20
1 oz.
24-karat
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 115,178 Mint State 70 Population: 8,735
January 15 US Airways Flight 1549 loses power in both engines shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia, forcing the pilot to ditch the aircraft in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew are rescued with no injuries, and the pilot is hailed as a hero.
June 12 Analog television broadcasts end in the United States, as the Federal Communications Commission requires all full power stations to send their signals digitally.
February 25 James Nicholson, the manager of an unregistered hedge fund, Westgate Capital Management, is arrested and charged in federal court with defrauding hundreds of investors in a Ponzi type scheme.
September 2 The Justice Department announces the largest health care fraud settlement in history, $2.3 billion, involving Pfizer.
The Emerging Group 2010-2015 The sets in the Emerging Group have not had a chance to mature as much as the older sets, but they are already showing very strong growth potential, with annualized performance ranging from 4% to 36%, far above recent average returns in the stock market or even the gold bullion market.
Emerging
2010
Emerging
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 202,799 Proof 70 Population: 1,790 Group Rank: 5th
Overall Rank: 26th
FEBRUARY 8 The 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.
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1/10 oz.
1/4 oz.
1/2 oz.
1 oz.
May 6 The “flash crash� occurs at the New York Stock Exchange, temporarily depleting 1,000 points off of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It is the largest intra-day fall ever.
November 4 The US Federal Reserve announces it will buy $600 billion in bonds to encourage economic growth.
June 19 China announces it will raise the yuan against the US Dollar after the US Congress announces it will penalize China unless it does so, causing widely imported Chinese goods to the United States to become more expensive, and to raise demand for US goods.
2011
Emerging
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 146,566 Proof 70 Population: 1,397 Group Rank: 2nd
Overall Rank: 23rd
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1/4 oz.
1/2 oz.
1 oz.
January 14 The Tunisian government falls after a month of increasingly violent protests; President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali flees to Saudi Arabia after 23 years in power.
FEBRUARY 22 - MARCH 14 The uncertainty of continued Libyan oil output causes crude oil prices to rise 20% over a two week period following the 2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests.
FEBRUARY 11 Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigns after widespread protests calling for his resignation, leaving control of Egypt in the hands of the military until a general election can be held.
MAY 1 President Barack Obama announces that Osama bin Laden has been killed during an American military operation in Pakistan.
APRIL 29 An estimated two billion people watched the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London.
2012
Emerging
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 70,954 Proof 70 Population: 1,714 Group Rank: 4th
Overall Rank: 25th
January 4 The EU imposes an oil embargo on Iran to get Iran to halt uranium enrichment and end its nuclear weapons efforts.
JULY 27 The 2012 Summer Olympics open in London. More than 10,000 athletes from 205 countries participate in the Games.
MARCH 4 Vladimir Putin wins the presidential election in Russia, claiming 64% of the vote. It will be his third full term as president of Russia.
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1/4 oz.
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1 oz.
DECEmber 12 North Korea successfully launches a rocket into orbit indicating that the country is inching closer to developing the expertise to build an intercontinental ballistic missile.
SEPTEMBER 11 Armed gunmen storm the American consulate in Libya, and shoot and kill U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other embassy officials.
2013
Emerging
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 71,959* Proof 70 Population: 1,202 Group Rank: 1st
Overall Rank: 21st
$5
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1/4 oz.
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1 oz.
JANUARY 21 The second inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.
APRIL 15 During the Boston Marathon, two pressure cooker bombs exploded killing 3 people and injuring an estimated 264 others near the finish line on Boylston Street.
FEBRUARY 11 Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina becomes Pope Francis, the first non-European pontiff after Pope Benedict XVI resigned for health reasons.
December 5 South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95.
October 1 - 16 The United States federal government entered a shutdown and curtailed most routine operations after Congress failed to enact legislation appropriating funds for fiscal year 2014.
2014
Emerging
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: 120,000^ Proof 70 Population: 1,453 Group Rank: 3rd
Overall Rank: 24th
FEBRUARY 2 10 years ago today, a Harvard sophomore named Mark Zuckerberg created a website called The Facebook.
March 8 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 mysteriously disappears while en route to Beijing, setting off an international search and igniting fears of terrorism.
FebRUARY 7-23 The XXII Olympic Winter Games take place in Sochi, Russia.
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1/4 oz.
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1 oz.
June 12 - July 13 The 2014 FIFA World Cup international soccer tournament takes place in Brazil.
March 18 Russian President Vladimir V. Putin states that Crimea is a part of Russia following a military incursion and hasty referendum.
AUGUST 24 NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft crosses the orbit of Neptune after travelling for over eight years, while on its way to Pluto.
2015
Emerging
NGC POPULATION SUMMARY Original Total Mintage: TBD Proof 70 Population: TBD Group Rank: TBD
Overall Rank: TBD
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JANUARY 7 Two gunmen storm the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris shooting several people including the magazine’s editor and some of its cartoonists
JANUARY 26 Causing turmoil in the financial markets with continued rejection of German-backed austerity, Alexis Tsipras swears in as the new Prime Minister of Greece.
FEBRUARY 1 The New England Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24, in the final seconds, of one of the most exciting Super Bowl games in recent history, giving MVP quarterback Tom Brady his fourth Super Bowl title.
JULY 14 NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flies by Pluto and Charon, enter ing the Kuiper belt and eventually leaving the Solar System.
FEBRUARY 12 Leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France reach an agreement on the conflict in eastern Ukraine that includes a ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.
Investment Grade Coins Outperform Bullion in the Last Five Years
Performance Based on Initial Investment of $10,000 $19,000
K
N
$18,000 $17,000
Gold Eagle Proof 70 Sets
$18,646
F D
$16,000
G
$15,000
H
E
$14,000 $13,000
B
C
$12,000
M I
$11,000 $10,000
J
Gold Bullion
L
$11,070
A
$9,000 3/2010
7/2010
1/2011
7/2011
1/2012
7/2012
1/2013
7/2013
1/2014
7/2014
2/2015
APRIL 2010 A A $10k initial investment would buy
AUGUST 2012 E A rush of investors begins to liquidate
DECEMBER 2013 I The market price of gold drops below
MAY 2010 B The price of Gold bullion and Gold
SEPTEMBER 2012 F Gold bullion starts a multi-month
FEBRUARY 2014 J Bullion prices solidified in Q1 of 2014
8.71 oz of gold or approximately 2 rare Gold American Eagle Proof 70 sets (8 coins).
Eagle Proof 70 sets jumps as investor demand drives prices higher.
June 2011 C The market price of Gold Eagle
Proof 70 sets rallies as supply of key sets diminishes.
AUGUST 2011 D Gold bullion reaches a record high
above $1,900 per ounce based on investor concern related to the downgrading of the U.S. Credit Rating, and the Debt Ceiling.
their bullion and move into Investment Grade Coins, including Gold Eagle Proof 70 sets.
slide, while the price of Gold Eagle Proof 70 sets continues to climb.
NOVEMBER 2012 G Gold bullion starts a multi-month slide, while the price of Gold Eagle Proof 70 sets continues to climb.
JANUARY - JUly 2013 H Gold bullion prices fall week-over-week, including a massive crash in mid-April, which dropped the price by $170 per ounce over 2 trading days.
$1,200 per ounce as Fed announces a “tapering� of the bond-buying.
as Russia rattled it sabers in Ukraine and around the world.
MARCH 2014 K Gold Eagle Proof 70 sets continue to out-perform the market as demand exceeds supply.
June-July 2014 L Militant group ISIS breaks onto the
international news scene with brutal terrorist acts in the Middle East, putting world financial markets on edge.
October 2014 M Fears of the Ebola virus rock the
United States and countries around the world. Meanwhile, gold prices fall as the Stock Market rallies.
January 2015 N Gold prices start the year strong as
oil prices fall and the Stock Market wobbles. Gold Eagle Proof 70 sets begin a new cycle and start to climb in price.
A Note about mintage & population figures For purposes of future evaluation of the collection, a few things should be mentioned. First, all raw and certified mintage information detailed herein was assembled and confirmed from various reliable industry sources, including the U.S. Mint and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), among others. The “raw” original mintage figures used from 1986-2012 were quoted from the Gold Proof mintages published on the U.S. Mint website for the individual Proof coins minted. The mintage totals only account for the individual denomination coins minted and do not include any mintages for Proof coins that were minted as part of either the four coin Proof Sets, of any special American Eagle anniversary sets. As for the “certified” population figures included in the book, these numbers are based on the number of Gold Eagle Proof coins certified by NGC in Proof 70 and are accurate as of March 2015. While the “raw” mintage figures for the individual denomination 2013 and 2014 Gold Eagle Proofs were not known at time of publishing, the certified total through March 2015 was known and is included herein. *For 2013, figures represent last reported sales from the U.S. Mint. ^For 2014, figures represent an estimate based on opening sales published by the U.S. Mint. All “Rarity Ranking” notations included above all coin pictures are the “rankings” within the specific denomination for the NGC certified Proof 70 populations only. There are other coin certification companies in operation. Therefore, the total population of all certified Proof 70 Gold Eagles is likely larger than just the NGC figures used herein. While we reasonably believe all raw and NGC certified mintage figures are accurate at the time the American Gold Eagle Proof collection was assembled, these numbers are subject to change in the future as more Proof coins are submitted for certification and ultimately certified by NGC. All investments involve risk, and coins, currency and bullion are no exception. The United States Gold Bureau (USGB) does not guarantee that any client buying for investment purposes will be able to sell for a profit in the future.
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Š Copyright 2015 by United States Gold Bureau. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used by any third party in any media without the express written consent of United States Gold Bureau.
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